Chapter 10

He had insisted that war must never happen and tried to persuade others not to betray their lord. He argued that Serpiewood must be protected. Asterope despised him for this. He was perceptive and quick-witted, always calculating. He was the person she most wanted to kill and the one she was most wary of in Serpiewood.

However, after much deliberation, Kallieon chose Asterope. Tama respected Kallieon’s decision. And when Kallieon left Serpiewood for the war, Tama was killed by the Lunette Knight Order, who had infiltrated the castle.

The one who killed Tama was none other than Asterope’s second brother, Jed. Jed had learned much from his battle with Tama, to the point where he even created a grave for his fallen enemy. Despite the chance to survive if he had surrendered, Tama fought to the end to protect Serpiewood.

“He was truly a man of Serpiewood. And a true knight.”

Jed Lunette would mutter this repeatedly whenever he was drunk. Afterward, he couldn’t face Villish for quite some time. Berlo remarked that Jed seemed to have developed a strong sense of doubt about the war. When Berlo sneered at Jed, calling him weak and clicking his tongue, Asterope had agreed and laughed along with him, unaware of the future that awaited them.

‘Tama assigning Maria to me was an act of goodwill. She’s a woman who knows Serpiewood and this castle well, and she can answer the questions I’m curious about.’

Strictly speaking, this was not entirely aligned with Kallieon’s intentions. Kallieon had been wary of anyone learning more about Serpiewood. He had even ensured that his attendants would not react sensitively to his changes. Yet, assigning Maria to Asterope was not a simple act of kindness.

‘I need to fully understand why Tama made this choice. And whatever the reason, I must make him my ally.’

As an enemy, Tama was someone who should have been killed first. But as an ally, he was someone who must be kept alive at all costs.

That wasn’t all. Through Tama, she could also persuade Jed. Since Jed had been moved by Tama’s virtue before, there was a high chance he would be again.

Asterope thought about throwing off her jewelry immediately and going to see Tama. A few words exchanged with him could determine her life or death, far more than this pointless adornment ever could.

However, she held herself back, knowing it wasn’t possible at the moment. Fortunately, the quick-handed Maria and the maids worked busily, following the Grand Duchess’s wishes. The Asterope reflected in the mirror, now fully adorned, was dazzlingly beautiful.

The cream-beige dress, which harmonized with her pale white skin, and the radiant red ruby jewelry suited her perfectly. The light makeup highlighted her pure charm, making her even more stunning.

The image of Asterope in the mirror was one familiar to everyone in Serpiewood Castle. Only to herself did it feel awkward. The glamorous and beautiful appearance, the faint floral scent lingering around her, and the expensive jewels and furs draped on her — she could never get used to it.

She tried not to let these feelings show. With the help of two maids, Asterope rose from her seat. As soon as she turned, her door swung open wide.

It was Kallieon, who had supposedly been in a meeting. It seemed the meeting had ended while she was getting ready. The maids all bowed deeply.

“Weren’t you in a meeting?”  

“I came as soon as it ended.”  

Kallieon’s expression had softened slightly. Asterope nodded.  

“I was worried about you, Rope, so I came.”  

“I’m fine. Thanks to your concern, I now have so many maids.”  

“They are people who should naturally be by your side.”  

Not to keep an eye on me? 

Asterope swallowed the question she couldn’t ask, lowering her gaze. Kallieon approached her and wrapped his arm around her waist.  

“Your clothes are still too thin. Were you planning to go somewhere again?”  

“I was going to meet Tama.”  

“Master Tama?”  

“I heard he’s repairing the Mage Tower. I’ve never been there, so I was curious. And I also wanted to thank him for assigning me such a good head maid.”  

Asterope spoke without looking directly at him, deliberately avoiding his gaze. She couldn’t forget the cold glint in Kallieon’s eyes from earlier. Kallieon, noticing her avoidance, gently cupped her chin.  

“Are you upset? Or were you disappointed by what I said earlier?”  

Asterope shook her head, still looking down.  

“Look me in the eyes, Rope.”

At Kallieon’s words, Asterope lifted her long eyelashes and met his gaze. Kallieon immediately noticed that the eyes of Asterope, which had clearly looked at him on the terrace, were now different. He gently stroked her cheek.

He didn’t know how to handle her subtle reaction, one that showed her disappointment at his harshness. After hesitating for quite a while, Kallieon finally spoke again.

“Head maid, tell Master Tama to come here to meet Rope.”  

“I could just go myself…”  

“The Mage Tower is dangerous. There are many magical artifacts, and the defensive spells haven’t been properly cleared.”  

“So it’s not that you don’t want me to go there?”  

“What do you mean by that?”  

Startled, Kallieon dismissed the maids.  

“Everyone, leave. Head maid, go call Master Tama.”  

“Yes.”  

“Don’t stay too far away. Always be in a place where the Grand Duchess can call for you.”  

“Yes, Your Grace. I will keep that in mind.”  

Once Maria and the maids had left the room, Kallieon immediately darkened his expression and looked at Asterope.  

“Rope, what exactly do you mean by that? There is no place in Serpiewood that you cannot go.”  

“Do you really think so?”  

“Rope.”  

Kallieon’s face grew serious again. It was as if he couldn’t bear to hear the disappointment in her voice. Asterope knew she had to hold back and take a step back herself. She realized it would be easier to act sweetly and coax him gently.  

But she didn’t want to. The frustration inside her burned like a fire. Asterope hated fire. She wanted to spit out all the heat and discomfort.  

“Your Grace, you don’t want me to know more about Serpiewood, do you? You want servants to always stay near me, at least ten of them at all times. Is this to protect me? Or to monitor me?”  

“I swear, no one is watching you. I only want you to do whatever you wish, Rope.”  

Kallieon’s tone was firm, as if there wasn’t a single lie in his words. However, Asterope’s expression didn’t soften. His words felt false to her. Avoiding his gaze, she continued speaking.  

“You said that yesterday’s me and today’s me are different, didn’t you?”

Kallieon quietly nodded. He couldn’t deny the confusion Asterope’s transformation was causing him. Asterope lowered Kallieon’s hand, which had been touching her cheek, and continued speaking.

“Is the Grand Duchess Asterope Lunette Onyx that you love the same as yesterday? Do you want me to always be like that?”

“Rope.”  

“Are you saying you dislike the me of today—the me who desires to become a true Lady of Serpiewood?”  

Asterope’s gaze sharply fixed on Kallieon. In that moment, Kallieon realized what the turmoil inside him was and what he had been worried about. He swallowed a sigh and calmly explained his feelings.  

“That’s not it. I just… I just don’t want you to get caught up in any more chaos. People think Serpiewood has stabilized, but it’s still no different from a battlefield. Everyone is desperate to tear each other apart. I can’t throw you into that war.”  

“But…”  

“Rope, you don’t need to strive to become anything.”  

“…”  

“You are already the Lady of Serpiewood without doing anything. You don’t need to desire it, nor do you need to prove it. Everything of mine is already in your hands.”  

Kallieon’s low and steady voice resonated. To Asterope, it felt as though all the surrounding noise had disappeared, leaving only his voice.  

Kallieon’s words, filled with sincerity, were on a completely different level than Villish’s vague sweet talk. His deep and earnest tone seemed to pierce her heart in an instant. Asterope fidgeted with her fingers before speaking again.  

“Are you being truthful?”  

“Rope, there has not been a single moment when I spoke lies before you.”  

Kallieon, as if asking her to look at him, guided her hands to hold his cheeks. Asterope’s gaze fully met Kallieon’s eyes. His expression, as he bent down to meet her at eye level, appeared more serious than ever.  

It couldn’t possibly be insincere. Asterope knew this better than anyone. But even so, she couldn’t imagine living her days surrounded by luxury and nothing more. After hesitating, she finally spoke.  

“But…”  

“But?”

“It’s no longer fun to choose these clothes or buy accessories.”  

“……”  

Kallieon slightly parted his lips, as if taken aback. He was once again shocked by her words—words that revealed she no longer found interest in what she had enjoyed most over the past year. Asterope gently stroked Kallieon’s cheek as she continued.  

“Your Grace, it’s not that I desire something else. I’m just bored of these things now. I find them dull.”